A Swedish beer designed to denounce the ails of racism and bigotry is facing backlash due to its packaging appearing to reflect the hood worn by Ku Klux Klan members.
The beer, Yellow Belly Imperial Stout, a beer sold at various stores and restaurants across the country, has been pulled from the shelves at World of Beer, a bar and restaurant in Hartford, Connecticut. A customer wrote a scathing post on Facebook about the restaurant selling the beer Saturday, and by Monday, the beer was pulled.
Customer Erika Davis-Pitre wrote a review on Facebook about the establishment with concerns about the beer being sold and promoted on Facebook by World of Beer.
“I literally thought it was someone posting in support (of) the KKK & I was perplexed, wondering who would do such a thing,” she wrote. “Presenting this packaging to any customer, let alone a Black customer, is insensitive at best or just downright racist.”
World of Beer responded to her post Monday, stating the beer had been pulled “from further sale.”
“Please accept our apologies for the lapse in judgment in serving. While we can’t speak for the intent of the brewer, the visual representation does not have a place at our establishment. We appreciate you bringing it to our attention and welcome the opportunity for discussion.”
Omnipollo, based in Stockholm, has brewed the beer since 2014 in partnership with United Kingdom’s Buxton Brewery. The company, founded by brewer Henok Fentie, uses beer and other merchandise to express political and social views on matters such as racism.
The description of the beer on Omnipollo’s website details the intention of the beer to promote anti-racism.
“Yellow Belly—a person who is without courage, fortitude, or nerve; a coward,” reads the message about the beer. “To us, one of the most cowardly deeds is to act anonymously, hiding behind a group. A signifying trait of institutionalized racism. This beer is brewed to celebrate all things new, open minded and progressive...Taste, enjoy, and don’t be prejudiced.”
On the Untappd website, the beer has a 4.3 rating out of 5 from more than 41,000 reviewers, with many noting the beer's "chocolatey," "good" "not too heavy" taste. The beer retails for about $13 to $17 a bottle, with an 11% alcohol-to-beverage volume.
Despite its heralded taste, many on social media said they found the choice of design for the “anti-racist” beverage to be tasteless.
As of Tuesday, Omnipollo had not submitted a statement about the backlash facing its beer.
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